Chapter 12
Barb Azure covered Lucy Gray with a blanket.
Two weeks had passed since the mining accident where Erik and eight other miners died, and her cousin had been ill since.
Lucy Gray could barely retain food in her stomach before she was forced to vomit everything she ate, and in those two weeks there was an important event.
Coriolanus Snow became president of Panem.
Lucy Gray released curses, for the first time in days of speaking words, when she saw President Harding's announcement of new elections and the winning outcome.
Yesterday Mayor Gilbert came telling me that he received a message from the Capitol asking all the Games Victors for a celebration, but Lucy Gray begged him to send a message saying that she was not in the best condition to travel because of her recent widowhood.
Barb Azure opened the door by meeting Maude Ivory.
'Mayor Gilbert brought a note for Lucy Gray,' said her cousin, spreading the letter to Barb Azure.
'I have just given her poppy tea to make her sleep,' replied Barb Azure, reading the letter.
"Given the deplorable circumstances of Mrs. Everdeen, she is exempt from her presence at the celebrations at the Capitol in the coming days.
President Snow sent his condolences to Mrs. Everdeen for the loss of her husband.
Mirra Gates.
Presidential Assistant"
'Well, at least they are not forcing her to go to the Capitol,' suspect Barb Azure, 'have you brought the ointment?'
'Yes,' Maude Ivory pulled the pot out of the pocket of her skirt. 'How's Tam Amber doing?
'His thigh still hurts,' replied Barb Azire.
There were two people in the house at their worst moment; Lucy Gray who had veiled and Tam Amber who lost her right leg.
'Can you ask Karen to serve a dish of soup for Tam Amber?' asked Barb Azure.
'Rosamund Mellark brought us another chicken casserole,' said Maude Ivory.
Barb Azure shrugged her head as she locked the door behind her, hoping that Lucy Gray could sleep well tonight.
• •
The first order that Coriolanus made as president was to commission Miller to oversee Lucy Gray in the Twelve.
Every week she gets reports about Lucy Gray.
Three months after the accident, his songbird's routine was simple, if not boring.
She went every day to mayor Gilbert's house to give his son guitar lessons, and then she returned to her house.
Lucy Gray bought the permit given to some districts for poultry farming, and learned that it was a small business she had with Tam Amber that they started after he was disabled by the mine accident where Everdeen died.
Since he could no longer work in the mines, he decided to raise chickens and sell eggs.
Lucy Gray lived a boring life in District Twelve.
Coriolanus was not alien to what was said of him, many still wonder why he had not yet married and he simply replied that he was before the Capitol but that he would soon begin to form a home.
The thirsty women of the Capitol seemed satisfied with her words and tried to catch his attention to attain the coveted post of First Lady of Panem.
But Coriolanus was patient, he would wait for the prudent time for Lucy Gray to carry his mourning and then propose to marry her. He already had the exact words to say for her to accept.
After all, she would have Covey and their family as an infallible insurance for her to accept her offer.
• •
In March of 34 A.D.D., there were two births in which Lucy Gray was involved.
The first one was by Nora Abernathy.
Lucy Gray, as usual, entered the Seam with her basket where she carried four large glass bottles to buy goat's milk. The two were talking when Nora broke water
On March 3, a brown-haired, scowling boy was born, whom the Abernathy's named Haymitch.
Lucy Gray gave Nora two bottles of strawberry and a small baby's trousseau. The Abernathy at first refused, but since Erik's loss, Nora was going to visit her every day to encourage her, and felt that it was a good gift.
Miles Hawthorne and his wife welcomed their son Matthew early this year, who was also given a small baby trousseau.
Lucy Gray grew up in the Seam all her childhood, so she knew that many were proud people who didn't like to be given anything, as everyone had grown up under the mantra of never owning anything, so when LucyGray gave the trousseau to Hawthorne, Miles brought her a turkey to hide the next week.
On March 19, the year 34.A.D.D, the Nightingale welcomed their daughter Calla Violet.
Clerk Carmine and Azalea decided to combine the Covey traditions and the apothecaries. The name of a flower for girls and the typical color of Covey.
Lucy Gray kept smiling while holding the little Calla Violet in her arms.
'She will be the best-dressed girl in the district,' Lucy Gray smiled at her little niece.
"Lucy Gray, you're going to spoil her," laughed CC.
'Well, I will never have my own children,' said Lucy Gray. "I am a widow, my womb is stung.I only have my nephews left."
Azalea and CC saw her with pity.
"Please," said Lucy Gray, "don't look at me with those faces. Today is not a day of sorrow," she looked at the baby in her arms. "Today is the day of this beautiful girl.
• •
In mid-April, seven months after she became a widow, Lucy Gray had to travel to the Capitol to celebrate the Victory Walk at the Presidential Mansion, nine months after Snow abused her.
Lucy Gray did not want to make that trip, but she was forced to attend, although in the last few days she was more tired than usual and her breasts began to hurt, so after almost nine months, her period would act as a presence.
The only advantage of this trip was to buy Calla Violet the most beautiful clothes.
All the trip on the train was so tired that she couldn't finish the fabric to a coat she was weaving for Tam Amber.
• •
When she arrived at the Tributes Center, Tigris received her.
Thro these years, Tigris remained her stylist and trusted friend.
"What do you think?" asked Tigris, showing her the dress she had made for the party. Lucy Gray asked to be black, as she was still mourning the loss of her husband.
Lucy Gray smiled despite the pain in her lower back since she arrived at the Capitol.
'It is beautiful, and the gloves give it a very soft touch,' replied Lucy Gray.
"Perfect!" smiled Tigris "I just asked Ava to prepare a bath for you with buttermilk and smelling salts. Now we can get you ready for the party."
"There are still as many as three hours, Tigris"
'Better, you'll have a lot of time in the bathtub,' said Tigris.
Lucy Gray avoided making a bite of pain at the punching pain in her back.
Ava, Avox, prepared the bath for her, and Lucy Gray lay down in the bathtub, letting the scents release her, but the pain in her back grew stronger. It was a pain that appeared over a period of time. First in spaces of almost five minutes and then each.
She released a cry of pain in front of a loud punch.
The need to push became urgent.
"Tigers! "Ava!" she shouted in pain, and in less than a minute they both appeared in the bathroom.
Tigris kneeled at her side.
"What's going on, Lucy Gray?" asked Tigris.
"I don't know, look for Mags and Woof!"
Ava ran out and the pain became even stronger, Lucy Gray released another cry of pain. A few minutes later, Woof and Mags arrived.
Mags didn't waste her time and put her hand inside the waist to touch in the middle of her legs.
"Lucy Gray, I touch a little head." said Mags.
'What?' cried Lucy Gray.
"Lucy Gray, I think you're in childbirth."
With those words of Mags, Lucy Gray released another shout of pain.